Domain Eukaryota Class Perkinsea Rank Genus | Phylum Perkinsozoa Species R. subtilis | |
Similar Colpodella, Colpodellida, Perkinsus | ||
Rastrimonas is a monotypic genus of parasitic alveolates in the phylum Apicomplexa. It contains the single species Rastrimonas subtilis. It was described in 2002 from the free-living cryptomonad Chilomonas paramaecium and placed in the new genus Cryptophagus. The following year this was renamed Rastrimonas.
Contents
Life cycle
The life cycle begins with the adhesion of the anterior tip of the parasite, followed by the penetration of the flagellated sporozoite, into a specialized region at the base of the flagellum of an individual Chilomonas. The trophozoite grows within the host cytoplasm.
After 4 to 5 successive nuclear mitoses the sporozoites bud on the surface where they acquire flagella, micronemes, and other apical structures. Mitosis is closed with an external spindle lacking a paradesmosis.
A sporangium is not formed, but a cyst may occur within the host.
Description
The sporozoite has an elongated shape with an apical complex, a central nucleus and two flagellae which are inserted at the base of the pseudoconoid.
Two microtubular roots lie deep to the plasma membrane and are attached to each basal body.
The apical complex consistes of a set of 10–14 micronemes and a train of dumbbell-like vesicles which converge toward the tip of the pseudoconoid. The micronemes are outlined by a four microtubule fibre. The dumbbell-like vesicles are associated with a three microtubules in a rakelike fibre.
The mitochondrial network has few cristae and a fairly reduced dense matrix.
One large vacuole containing microfilamentous material is present and is connected to the nuclear envelope.
The Golgi body is situated close to the nucleus.